Rug scouring apparatus



Oct; 27, 1953 H. c. HARTENBACH, JR

RUG SCOURING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet l @wy A'fo R NEYS Oct. 27, 1953 H. c. HARTENBACH, JR 2,656,701

RUG SCOURING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYSOct. 27, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet ('2 Filed May 25, 1949 H. c. HARTENBACH, JR2,656,701

RUG SCOURING APPARATUS Oct. 27, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 25, 1949INVENTOR fl WW- ATTORNEYS Ogt. 27, 1953 H. c. HARTENBACH, JR

RUG-SCOURING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 25, 1949 INVENTORggvzra/ 5H him/75W ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1953 RUG soooamcAPPARATUS Henry C. Hartenbach, Jr., St. Louis, Mo., asslgnor to Proctor& Schwartz, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication May 25, 1949, Serial No. 95,241

7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in scouring andscrubbing machines, particularly to new and useful improvements inapparatus for scouring and scrubbing rugs and like floor coverings.

Present day practice in substantially all rug cleaning establishments inthe United States consists in first scouring and rinsing the pile sideof the rug, scouring and rinsing the back of the rug, then squeegeeingor squeeze rolling the rug and finally drying it. In some very few casesthe rugs are stretched during drying in order to maintain or return themto their original size, and an application of sizing to hold them toshape sometimes is made.

Most scouring and rinsing today is done by placing the rug on a cementfloor and scouring the pile side thereof with a rotary floor cleaningbrush while feeding a mixture of soap and water through the brush to thesurface of the rug. After scouring, the surface of the rug is sprayed orrinsed by means of a clear water hose, and the rug is then turned overwith the back side up and a similar scouring operation is performed onthe back. If the establishment is a large one, they may have a largesqueeze roll through which the rug is passed to remove excess water andfor a thorough flushing to remove all traces of the cleansing soap, alarge volume spray of clear water being directed on to the rug surfacebefore it passes through a squeeze roll in order to provide as large avolume of rinse water as possible. If the establishment is small, theexcess water and soap are merely scraped from the rug by means of asqueegee or analogous device.

' After these operations have been-completed, the rug ,is generallydragged manually into a drying room and mounted on a pole by one edgeafter which it is hoisted up so that ithangs in the room where it issubjected to circulating hot air or other drying medium.

Some of the major disadvantages of conventional rug cleaning practice,apart from the great amount of time and labor involved, consist in thenon-uniformity of scouring and cleaning which results, the shrinkage ofthe rug because in most cases no attempt is made to control or preventshrinkage, the migration and bleeding of the colors in the rug due tohanging them in a vertical position in the dry room, and the limpnessand loss of shape due to loss of sizing during the securing.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the presentinvention is to provide a novel apparatus for scouring and cleaningrugswhich effectively eliminates all of the foregoing disadvantages andobjections encountered in present day practise and which in particularprovides a uniform cleaning of the rug by mechanical means thatsubstantially reduces the amount of time and labor required whilemaintaining positive control of the rug to prevent shrinkage thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for scouringrugs having the features and advantages set forth, which is highlyefficient and effective in operation and use.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features anddetails of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter setforth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevational view showing a rug scouring rangeembodying the scouring method and apparatus of the present invention inassociation with suitable drying apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus from the feed endthereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the scouring apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view somewhat enlarged of the rug scouringapparatus;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view somewhat enlarged vertically through thescouring apparatus on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, the framework of the apparatusview taken on line 9-9, Fig. 3, showing the carriage at the opposite endof the stroke from Fi 3.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly Figs. 5 to 8 thereof, arug or like article to be scoured is fed into the apparatus of thepresent invention over one or more idler rolls l, and thence over apush-on roll 2 which operates to engage or impale the rug upon sharppins or spikes 3 which are secured to and project outwardly from anendless conveyor 4. In accordance with the present invention the rug isfed to the machine so that the pile side thereof is in'contact with theconveyor 4.

,ings.

As best shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the conveyor 4 preferably is of theperforated plate hinge type, and the pins 3 are arranged therein, forexample, on three-inch centers both in the direction of travel of theconveyor and transversely thereof. The conveyor 4 is mounted upon a pairof sprocketsfiiand 5 respectively, .the upper one 5 of which is drivenat a predetermined rate of speed from a sprocket I (see Fig. 4). Thesprocket 1 is driven by chain 8 from a smaller sprocket .9 which in turnis driven by a sectional main power shaft it in the machine,said;shaf-trbeing driven by a suitable series of chains and sprocketsfrom the main power source of'the machine. The push-on roll 2 is drivenby a sprocket I I from a chain i2 which in turn is driven by sprocket i3secured on the same shaft asthe aforesaid sprocket i. In addition, thepush-on roll 2.is biased or urged by a spring 14 in the direction of therug.

outwardly 'overlying'the conveyor 4 and extending in the direction oftravel thereof -is-a plurality of strips or :bands 15, for example ofstainless steel. or'other suitable'material. A plurality of. thesebandsior strips 1515 provided across the machine at equally "spacedintervals, and they are anchored at one end to the underside of the workplatform I6 of the machine, as indicated at H, from "which point theyextend downwardly over the initial or rug-receiving course of theconveyor 4, about the lower end thereof and thence upwardly along theinner course of the conveyor. The other ends of the strips 15 extendpartially about the adjacent end of secondendl'ess conveyor 29, under atransverse rod or bar 2| and are anchored through a spring 22 to a fixedpart 23 of the frame of the machine.

By virtue of this construction and arrangement of the conveyor '4 andstrips or bands -15, it will be apparent that when the rug to be cleanedis impaled on 'the projecting pins or spikes .3 of the conveyor by "thepush-on roll -2, the said strips or hands l5 willbe disposed between therug and .the conveyor 4 in therelation, for example, shown'in Fig. 6 ofthe draw- In order to retain the rug'upon the pins of spikes 3 of theconveyor 4, as the latter travels around its lower sprocket '5, there isprovided outwardly adjacentt'he rug a series of strips 'or bands 25spaced-.at intervals transversely 'of the apparatus. At their inner endsthese strips'or bands 25 are secured to arod or bar '26 which ismountedtoa fixedpart fl of "the machine, and

at their other end the said stripsor'ban'ds' 25 are flexed overafixedbar or rod28 and connected through springs "2*9 toanadjustable'connection 30 with a'fixed part3 l o-f the machine.

As the rug is impaled upon-the pins or spikes .3 of the conveyor 4 bymeans of the push-on roll '2, vt'he'rug is carried by th'e'conveyor 4 ina downward direction about the bottom sprocket 6 and thence'inan'upwardcourseor direction, as indicated by the arrows. As previouslystated, the

rug is engagedwith'the conveyor with the pile vand scrubbed by means ofa back cleaning'brush which rotates-in the direction of the arrow.

This brush 35 preferably is-of the horizontal 0371- inder type and, asshown in Fig. 4, maybe driven 75 by a pulley 36 from a chain 31 which isdriven in turn by a sprocket 3 8 seciu'ed on the same shaft as thepush-on roll sprocket l l. The back cleaning brush 35 is provided withan ample supply of a mixture of water and a cleaning agent such as soapfrom suitable spray devices 39. Underlying the brush 35 is aplate 40which serves as a reservoir for the water and cleaning mixturedischarged from the spray39 so that as .much of this mixture as possibleis applied to the back surface of the rug by the action of the brushl35.

As upward travel of the rug continues, the back side thereof is nextbrought into engagement with-suitable rinsing devices which aresuspended by "links 46 from a fixed part 41 of -.,the,machine. Theserinse devices 45 each comprisesia pair of relatively spaced rolls 48 and49 which are adapted to ride upon the back surface of the upwardlymoving rug, and clear rinse water and air under pressure are supplied:by means ofsuitableflexible hoses 5B and .51 respec tively anddischarged against the back side of the rugintermediate "the rolls 48and 49. In addition to providing supportforthe rinse device 45 inrespect to the back surface of the rug, these rolls 48 and 4.9 operatetoentrap'therebetween a turbulentmass of compressed air "and water whicheffects a thorough rinsing of the soap or other cleaning agent'fromtherug, the aeration of the water by the air discharged under pressureproviding an-eifervescence or turbulence which hasbeen'found distinctlyadvan- -tageous in effecting a thorough and complete rinsing of the rug.The used 'r'inse water. and the soap rinsed from the rug are directed bymeans of a resilient-doctor blade 52 into a trough or the-like 53'towhich a suitable drain may be connected'for carrying off the used rinsewater.

Upwardtravel of the rug continues as aforesaid until it reaches theupper sprocket .5 at which time "the underlying strips or .bands l5functionto strip therug from the pins or spikes '3 ofthe first conveyor4 and to transfer the rug therefrom to the second conveyor 20 byengaging er 'impaling the rug upon "similar pins or spikes fill providedon the said second conveyor .20.

The second conveyor 20 extends about two mainsprockets-S'! and62respectively which are arranged so that the conveyor 2 0 is disposedgenerally horizontal with a dog-leg or declining portion 'at its outeror discharge end. The "sprocket- 6! of the second conveyor 20 isdisposed parallel to and adjacent the upper sprocket 5 of the firstconveyor 4, and thesetwo sprockets 5-and 6l aremounted so'that they-areabout 110 to 12 off true tangency with'respect to each other'in order tofacilitate transfer of the rug from the conveyor 4 to the conveyor .20.

The conveyor "20 travels-in the direction indicated by the arrows 'inF-ig. 5, andin1its lower "course'is supported-at the bend-by means of a1 01155 "having grooves 66 to provide clearance for the passage of the:pins-or-spikestl This .roll is carried "by the outerendof an arm 61which is pivoted to ;a stationary part 68 of the machine and isadjustable relative to the machine by means of'an-adjustment 69. Inaddition, thelowercourse 'of'the conveyor .20 is supported-atsuitableintervals by small rolls 10 and *1! respectively supported from fixedparts 12 and 13 of the frame structurerof'the machine. At the bend inthe upper course, theconveyor is supported We series of small rolls 14.

After transfer of the rug to the second con aqua-mi veyor 20 in themanner previously described, the rug is conveyed upwardly and over thesprocket I and starts to move through the general horizontal portion ofthe upper course of said conveyor. During travel of the rug through thishorizontal portion of the conveyor upper course, it will be apparentthat the pile side of the rug is facing upwardly and exposed forcleaning.

In the initial portion of its travel through the upper course of theconveyor 20, the upwardly facing pile side of the rug is thoroughlyscrubbed and scoured by means of a plurality of rotary brushes 15, eachdriven by a suitable source of power such as an electric motor 10. Inthe'illustrated embodement of the invention four such brushes 15 areprovided and these are carried in suitable brackets 11 which form partof a generally rectangular frame or carriage C comprising side rails I9,I9 and connecting members 00 constructed and arranged so that thebrackets 11 span the space between the said rails and I9 and the brushesI5 are disposed intermediate the latter, for example, as shown in Figs.3 and 5 of the drawings.

The brush carriage C is adapted to be moved back and forth transverselyof the apparatus and crosswise of the pile side of the rug so that therotating brushes I5 are caused to contact or engage the entire width ofthe rug. For this purpose the side members I8 and 19 of the carriagemount wheels or the like 05 which are adapted to ride upon the lowerflanges of a pair of inwardly facing channel frame members which arefixedly secured transversely of the apparatus,

for example, as best shown in Fig. 5 of the w drawings.

A mixture of water and cleaning agent such as soap is supplied to eachof the rotary brushes I5 through a hose or the like 90. The forwardmotion of the rug on the conveyor 20 and the crosswise movement of therotary brushes produces a definite path of scouring upon the rug whichis controllable and is automatically'maintained by driving the rotatingbrush carriage back and forth in timed relation to the travel of the rugthrough the machine. The rotary brushes I5 may be fioatingly mounted inthe frames 11 so that they automatically adjust themselves to thevarious thicknesses of rugs that may be conveyed through the machine.

With reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 9 of the drawings, the rotary brushcarriage C is actuated back and forth across the rug in the mannerdescribed by means of a pair of arms 9I which are pivotally connected atone end upon a fixed rod 92 that is connected between a pair ofstandards 93 provided at opposite sides of the carriage. The other endsof the arms 9I are pivotally mounted upon a crossbar 94 which has itsopposite ends fixedly connected to a pair of endless chains 95 formovement therewith. The chains 95 are carried by suitable sprockets 96and 91 which in turn are fixed upon stub shafts 98 and 99 mounted insuitable bearings I00, IOI secured to and supported by relatively spacedportions I02 and I03 (see Fig. 4) of the structural framework of themachine. Also mounted on the stub shafts 99 are smaller sprockets I04which are driven by a pair of chains I05 from suitable sprockets thatare fixed on a shaft I01. This shaft I01 also has fixed thereon arelatively larger sprocket, and this sprocket is driven by a chain I09from a suitable sprocket I I0 that is secured upon the main drive shaftI0 of the machine.

After the has been subjected to the described scrubbing and scouringaction of the rotary brushes 15, continued movement of the conveyor 20brings the rug into engagement with a plurality of rinsing devices II5.These rinsing devices II 5 are constructed and operate sub stantially asdescribed with reference to the rinsing devices 45. However, in thepresent instance the rinse devices II5 are supported in arms IIE whichproject forwardly from a bar or rod II! that overlies the rug andextends across the machine.

It is to be noted that the arms I I5 for the different rinse devices II5are of greater length laterally outward from the center of the machineso that the several rinse devices H5 at the opposite sides of the centerare spaced forwardly or outwardly from the bar I H a progressivelygreater distance in staggered or stepped relation laterally outward fromthe center of the machine in the manner and relationship shown in Fig. 3of the drawings.

The bar or rod I I1 is rotatably supported, and a worm and wheelarrangement is provided in a housing H8 at one side of the apparatus andarranged to be operated by a hand wheel II9 for rotationally adjustingthe bar or rod II! and thereby regulating the rinse devices II5 withrespect to the pile side of the rug.

As in the case of the rinse devices 45, water and air under pressure aresupplied thereto by means of suitable flexible hoses I20 and I2I,respectively, and this mixture of air under pressure and water isdischarged against the pile side of the rug where it is partiallyconfined or entrapped between pairs of rolls I22 and I23 as aforesaid sothat a thorough rinsing of the soap or other cleaning agent from the rugis effected in the manner previously described. The soap and water fromthe rotary brushes I5 and the used rinse water discharged from the rinsedevices II5 collects in a tray I25 provided beneath the upper course ofthe conveyor 20, and the water which collects in the tray I25 in turn isdischarged through a pipe I26 to a lower tray or trough I 21 from whichit is conducted by suitable means to a drain or the like (not shown).

After passing beneath the rinse devices I I5 the rug and upper course ofthe conveyor 20 passes over the series of small rolls I4 and then takesa downward course to bring the pile side of the rug into engagement witha pile-laying brush I3I which is rotationally driven in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. The pile-laying brush I3I is of thehorizontal cylinder type and functions to lay the pile of the rug in onedirection in order to ensure a good appearance to the rug after it hasbeen squeezed and dried. Associated with the pile-laying brush I 3I is acomb I32 which is adapted to remove from the bristles of the brush I3Isuch pieces of yarn, fibre and the like as the brush may pick up fromthe rug. As these pieces are disengaged fromthe brush by the comb I32they are collected in a suitable tray or the like I33.

After the pile is laid by the brush I3I, the rug is finally rinsed bysubjecting it to heavy uniform sprays of water I34 which are discharged,

for example, from a plurality of openings provided in a pipe or the likeI35. The rug is then stripped from the conveyor 20 by means of aplurality of fingers or strips I33 and is passed between a pair ofsqueeze rolls I31 and I38 respectively, after which itmay be sizejd'anddried in any suitable manner, for example, in the manzstegoi 7-. ner andin a .drier-of .thetype disclosed inmy Patent-No.2,265,011.issuedlDecember2, 1941.

From the foregoing descr'iptionit will be ob served that the presentinvention provides a novel apparatus for scouring and cleaning rugswhich eliminates effectively the numerous disadvantages and objectionsencountered in present day .rug cleaningpractises. The inventionparticularly provides a novel apparatus for effecting a uniform cleaningof rugs by mechanical means which substantially reduces the time andlabor required and at the same time maintains positive control of therug to prevent shrinkage thereof.

'Inaddition, the present invention provides a novel rug scouringapparatus which when employed in conjunctionwith the drying method andapparatus of my aforesaid Patent No. 2,265,071 enables rugs to be'efliciently scoured, cleaned, sized and'dried in a continuous processduring which the rugs are positively held in a definite position and areentirely free of any manual handling of the rugs between the free end ofthe scouring machine and the delivery endof the drier.

While particular embodiments of the method andapparatus of the presentinvention have been set'forth herein, it i s-not intended to limit theinvention to such disclosures, and changes and modifications may be madeand incorporated therein asdesired within the scope of the followingclaims.

' I claim:

1. In'rug scouring "apparatus, a first endless conveyor havingprojecting pins arranged at intervals longitudinally 'and transverselythereof, mechanism to feed and direct a rug progressively into impaledengagement upon the pins of said conveyor inone course thereof tobecarried by the conveyor with one side of the rug facing outwardly,asecond endless conveyor having one -end thereof disposedadjacent tosaid first conveyor at the end or the other course thereof and providedwith "projecting pins arranged longitudinally and transversely thereof,elements dis'posedto underlie a'zrug on the first conveyor and extendinglongitudinally thereof to and about "the adjacent rend of said secondconveyor operable to strip a rug from the pins of said first conveyorand direct the same progressively into impaled engagement upon the pinsof the second conveyor tobe carried thereby with the other side .of therug facing out- 8 conveyor and extending longitudinally thereof to'andabout the'adj'acent'en'd ofsaid second conveyor operable to strip arug fromthe pins of said first conveyor and direct thesame progressivelyinto impaled engagement upon the pins of the second conveyor to becarried thereby with the other side of the rug facing outwardly,scrubbing means adjacent said other course of the first conveyoroperable to engage and thoroughly clean said one side of the rubthereon, rinse means adjacent said scrubbing means, scrubbing meansadjacent the second conveyor comprising a plurality of rotary brushesreciprocable transversely as a unit acrosssaid other surface of the rugto thoroughly clean the same, mechanism to actuate said brushescrosswise of the rug in timed relation to the travel thereof on saidsecond conveyor; and rinse means adjacent said second scrubbing means.

3. In rugscouring apparatus. a first endless conveyorha-ving projectingpins arranged at intervals longitudinally and transversely thereof,mechanism to feed and direct a rug progressively into impaled engagementupon the pins of said conveyor in one course thereof to be carried bythe conveyor with one side of the rug facing outwardly, a second endlessconveyor having one end thereof disposed adjacent to said first conveyorat the end of the other course thereof and proided with projecting pinsarranged 'longitudinally and transversely thereof, means to strip a rugfrom the pins of the first conveyor and direct the same progressivelyinto'impaled engagement upon'the pins of the second conveyor to becarried thereby with the other side of the rug facing outwardly,scrubbing means adjacent said other course of the first conveyoroperable to engage and thoroughly clean said one side of the rugthereon, rinse means adjacent said scrubbing means, scrubbing meansadjacent the second conveyor operable to'thoroughly-clean saidother-side of the rug, rinse wardly, scrubbing means adjacent said othercourse of the first conveyor operable to engage and thoroughly:cleansaid one side of the rug thereonyrinse means adjacent saidscrubbing imeans, scrubbing means adjacent the second conveyorcomprising a plurality of rotary brushes reciprocable transversely as aunit across said other surface of the rug to thoroughly clean the same,and rinse .means adjacent said second "scrubbingmeans. r 2. In rugscouring apparatus, a first endless :conveyor'having projecting pinsarranged at intervals longitudinally and transversely thereof, mechanismtofeed and direct a rug progressively into impal'ed engagement upon thepins of said conveyor in one course thereof to be carried by theconveyor with-one side of the rug facing :outwardly, a second endlessconveyor having .one end thereof disposedadjacent to said first conveyoriatvthe :end of the other course there- .of and provided with projectingpins arranged longitudinally and .-transversely thereof,.elementsldisposed to underlie .a ing on the first means adjacent saidsecond'scrubbing means, pile laying means adjacent the second conveyordisposed to engage the rug thereon and laythe same 7 in one direction,and means associated with the other end of said second conveyor operableto strip the rug from the pins thereof.

4. In rug scouring apparatus, a first endless conveyor having 7projecting pins arranged at intervals longitudinally and transverselythereof,'mechanism tofeed and direct a-rug progressively into impaledengagement upon the pins of said conveyor in one course thereof to becar- 'ried by the conveyor with one side of the rug facing outwardly, asecond endless conveyor having one end thereof disposed adjacent to saidfirst conveyor at the end of the other course thereof and provided withprojecting pins arranged longitudinally and transversely thereof,

means to strip a rug from th pins of the first conveyor and direct thesame progressively into impaled engagement upon the pins of the'secondconveyor to be carried thereby with the other side of the rug facingoutwardly, elements arranged to outwardly overlie a rug on the firstconveyor to maintain the rug thereon, scrubbing means adjacent saidother course of the first conveyor operable to engage and thoroughlyclean said one side of the rug thereon, rinse means adjacent saidscrubbing means, scrubbing means adjacent thesecond conveyor comprisinga plurality of rotary brushes reciprocable transverseate said brushescrosswise of the rug in timed relation to the travel thereof on saidsecond conveyor, rinse means adjacent said second scrubbing means, pilelaying means comprising a brush adjacent the second conveyor anddisposed to engage the rug and lay the pile in one direction, and meansassociated with the other end of said second conveyor operable to stripthe rug from the pins thereof.

5. In rug scouring apparatus, an endless conveyor provided withprojecting pins arranged longitudinally and transversely thereof tocarry a rug, means to feed and direct a rug progressively into impaledengagement upon said pins of the conveyor in one course thereof, aseries of independently driven rotary scrubbing means adjacent said onecourse of the conveyor reciprocable as a unit transversely across thesurface of the rug to thoroughly clean the same, and

mechanism to actuate said rotary scrubbing 1 means as a unit crosswiseof the rug in timed relation to the travel thereof on said conveyor.

6. In rug scouring apparatus, an endless con veyor provided withprojecting pins arranged longitudinally and transversely thereof toengage and carry a rug, means to feed and direct a rug progressivelyinto impaled engagement upon said pins of the conveyor in one coursethereof, scrubbing means adjacent .said one course of the conveyorcomprising a plurality b 7. In rug scouring apparatus, an endlessconveyor having projecting pins arranged at intervals longitudinally andtransversely thereof, mechanism to feed and direct a rug progressivelyinto impaled engagement upon the pins of said conveyor in one coursethereof to be carried by the conveyor with one side of the rug facingoutwardly, elements arranged to outwardly overlie a rug on the conveyorto maintain the rug thereon during travel thereof from said one courseto the other course of the conveyor, scrubbing means adjacent the othercourse of the conveyor operable to engage and thoroughly clean said oneside of the rug thereon, rinse means adjacent said scrubbing means, andmeans to strip the rug from said conveyor.

HENRY C. HARTENBACI-I, JR.

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